Lonely Britain: over half of families no longer have dinner together
More than half of UK households are ditching family dinners for home alone time, according to new research.
Now 59% of UK homeowners have dinner at a different time to the rest of the family, and 53% are snubbing the living room to watch TV in the bedroom, the study by Lloyds Bank Insurance revealed.
The Britain at Home report found that although the majority of homeowners live with a partner (90%) or children (54%), the nation is spending more time alone in the house.
Perhaps fuelled by the influence of technology such as tablets, laptops and multiple TVs in the home, more than one in six (16%) said they spend the most waking hours in the bedroom.
The kitchen renaissance
While a century ago the kitchen was purely a functional area for most households, it is now the most valuable room in the house, worth an estimated £4,909 on average.
A third (31%) of those polled said they spent the most time at home in the kitchen and over half (58%) now entertain friends there instead of the living room. UK homeowners have spent £413 on kitchen gadgets in the past year, with 41% investing in a coffee machine and 33% buying a bread maker.
Yet as the kitchen rises in popularity, the dining room appears to be falling out of favour. While two thirds (64%) of homeowners have a dining room, the vast majority (84%) say they usually have dinner in the living room.
Melanie Backe-Hansen, house historian and author of House Histories: The Secrets Behind Your Front Door, said: "Our homes have always reflected how we lead our lives. In modern Britain it's now common for our homes to contain more screens than people, and for members of the family to spend more time on their own after a busy day.
"It is fascinating to see modern life taking its toll on how we use our homes. Although nowadays living spaces in the home are less defined than the Victorian period, and far more multi-functional, it seems the tradition of families sitting down to eat together may be impacted by longer working hours, more hectic social lives and the growing influence of technology."
Safe as houses
The report also showed that despite spending less time with their family, Britons are more than happy to invest in what's inside their homes. UK homeowners spent an average of £4,813 on new contents last year, including furniture, appliances, technology and art.
Over three quarters (77%) of homeowners surveyed confess to splashing out on the home to improve their wellbeing. However, over one in five (22%) admits keeping up with neighbours and friends is their spending motivation, whilst a quarter claim TV and magazines as the main influences for sprucing up their living spaces.
While spending on the inside of our homes increases, as does the need to protect them. Although 83% of homeowners say their home contents are insured, one in 20 (5%) admit they don't know whether their contents are covered. One in 10 has no home contents insurance at all.
Tim Downes, senior claims manager, Lloyds Bank Home Insurance, said: "The home has always been an extension of the owner's identity and that investment in improving is often driven by a desire for personal comfort but also for presenting an image to visitors.
"Our homes are now mirroring our whirlwind schedules, but it is crucial that homeowners slow down occasionally to check that their prized possessions are adequately protected."